Here’s the latest from the Bronx…
- In a Q&A with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Yankees GM Brian Cashman says that the franchise’s tendency to “cut corners” due to a constant need to contend has led to issues in developing starting pitchers. “Part of it is we can’t get out of our own way because we don’t have the patience to let guys finish off their development, because if you possess some unique ability that stands out above everybody else — whether it was Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, now [Luis] Severino and before that [Bryan] Mitchell and Shane Greene — we’re pulling them up before their development is finished.” The full interview is well worth a read in its entirety, as Cashman is very candid about such topics as his long career in the team’s front office, past and more recent transactions, and the Yankees’ current youth movement.
- Some in the Yankees organization aren’t pleased with how Didi Gregorius was deployed during the World Baseball Classic, FanRag Sports’ Jon Heyman reports, as this usage may have contributed to Gregorius’ shoulder injury. Gregorius was used mostly as a DH by the Netherlands and he was injured while making a throw as a second baseman, rather than his natural shortstop position. The Yankees were under the impression that Gregorius would see time rotating with Andrelton Simmons and Jonathan Schoop in the middle infield, though as Heyman notes, Simmons’ defensive wizardry made him the Netherlands’ logical starting shortstop.
- Chris Carter is having a very rough Spring Training, leading Brendan Kuty of NJ Advance Media to wonder if Carter would potentially become a roster drag for the Yankees. Carter was signed to provide a right-handed first base complement to Greg Bird, though since Bird is healthy and has been on fire in spring action, it would make sense that New York would want to give the youngster as much playing time as possible, even against southpaws to further his development. With Matt Holliday locked into the DH spot, Carter might not have much opportunity to shake off the rust once the season begins. Carter admitted to Kuty that the shift from being a regular to only getting part-time at-bats as a Yankee is “definitely an adjustment.”
Odd that he would admit they botched Severino’s and Mitchell’s development when they are so young still and will be heavily relied upon this season. I’d like to see Jordan Montgomery in the rotation at some point this year, not that it has anything to do with any previously stated banter anywhere.
I don’t see Mitchell as a failure yet.
I feel Severino is a failed starter tho. Mitchell still has that potential.
Huh? Mitchell is older than Severino by two years and is less accomplished…
Kinda seems like a BS excuse to me….. If they weren’t ready how does that help them contend?
How come the only farm regular to hold on is Gardner?
Truth of the matter Cashy is the Yankees don’t develop players very well. Sure you can change your focus from buying Free Agents to buying farm hands but you still got to develop them.
Because an unpolished guy with a lot of talent can be better than a below average MLB player. How is that hard to understand?
Dave Robertson walked, Melky Cabrera was traded, Austin Jackson was traded, Jose Quintana was traded, in 2017 the Yankees will have four homegrowns in the lineup and three guys who came via trade of homegrowns (Didi with Greene was the mean piece, Castro with Warren and Headley prior to his extension).
I think what Cash said makes a lot of sense. He fully admits he rushes them (which implies they don’t develop them well) but also rightfully points out the Yankees never have a “lottery” pick to deal with and they’ve lost a lot of picks over the years going after high priced free agents.
I thought we weren’t supposed to read into spring training stats…
Where all those morons at who called Carter’s deal a steal for the Yanks? I said he was a bum who was taking a roster spot from young talent who could actually help the next great Yankees team and got slammed on this board. Wake up idiots, Carter is terrible and will probably be released by May.
Spring training stats are pretty well useless. They have ostensibly zero predictive power, so we shouldn’t be making judgements on a player because of ST. If you thought he was a bum, a good spring shouldn’t change that. And vice versa.
Good to know no one takes this too seriously
Imagine if the Red Sox took spring stats as seriously as you do. Papi would have been released 5 years ago.
Would you really want that young player sitting on the bench in the majors, getting closer to free agency, or in the minors playing every day and continuing to develop?
Cashman is dead wrong on this one.they play way too many dumb games with their young pitchers.they need to take off the training wheels and just let them pitch.pitching a thousand minor league innings to scrubs helps no one,and creates a possible reliance on habits that may never fly in mlb.
When is he going to own up that the Yankees Pitching coach who he has praised in the past reaaaaaallly SUCKS. He hasn’t developed one arm yet.
And if Simmons didn’t get the nod at SS, it most definitely would have been Xander, and not Didi.
Why? Why would it be X over Didi? Because your a sux fan? X was playing third so slow your roll!